Nitrogen dynamics during ecosystem development in tropical forest restoration

We considered whether ecological restoration using high diversity of native tree species serves to restore nitrogen dynamics in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We measured δ¹⁵N and N content in green foliage and soil; vegetation N:P ratio; and soil N mineralization in a preserved natural forest and restored forests of ages 21 and 52 years. Green foliage δ¹⁵N values, N content, N:P ratio, inorganic N and net mineralization and nitrification rates were all higher, the older the forest. Our findings indicate that the recuperation of N cycling has not been achieved yet in the restored forests even after 52 years, but show that they are following a trajectory of development that is characterized by their N cycling intensity becoming similar to a natural mature forest of the same original forest formation. This study demonstrated that some young restored forests are more limited by N compared to mature natural forests. We document that the recuperation of N cycling in tropical forests can be achieved through ecological restoration actions.     

Assay of aroma active components of virgin olive oils from southern Italian regions by SPME-GC/ion trap mass spectrometry

An SPME-GC/ion trap method was exploited to determine the chromatogram of volatile compounds of organic olive oils of southern Italian regions. The method is based on the assay of the terminal species of the "lipoxygenase pathway", which are present in the volatile fraction of the sampled compounds. Ethyl isobutanoate was used as internal standard in either the EI or CI ionization mode. The absolute concentration values of each analyte were evaluated through good-to-excellent calibration curves. Case studies on oils obtained from different cultivars or harvesting times are presented. The quantitative data for each compound were subjected to principal component analysis to characterize the different cultivars of this work.     

Massive-star supernovae as major dust factories

We present late-time optical and mid-infrared observations of the Type II supernova 2003gd in the galaxy NGC 628. Mid-infrared excesses consistent with cooling dust in the ejecta are observed 499 to 678 days after outburst and are accompanied by increasing optical extinction and growing asymmetries in the emission-line profiles. Radiative-transfer models show that up to 0.02 solar masses of dust has formed within the ejecta, beginning as early as 250 days after outburst. These observations show that dust formation in supernova ejecta can be efficient and that massive-star supernovae could have been major dust producers throughout the history of the universe.     

Iron chelation by the powerful antioxidant flavonoid quercetin

Chelation of the bare and hydrated iron(II) cation by quercetin has been investigated at the DF/B3LYP level in the gas phase. Several complexed species arising from neutral and anionic forms of the ligand have been taken into account. Both 1:1 and 1:2 metal/flavonoid stoichiometries have been considered. Results indicate that among the potential sites of chelation present on quercetin, the oxygen atoms belonging to the 3-hydroxy and 4-oxo, and to the 5-hydroxy and 4-oxo groups, are the preferred ones. Time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) calculations, used to reproduce the electronic UV-vis spectra of isolated quercetin and its complexes with Fe2+, were also performed in methanol and dimethylsulfoxide.     

A simple,low‐cost technique for in situ measurement of leaf P concentration in field‐grown rice

Simple tools for diagnosing crop nutritional status are in great demand by agricultural extension staff, particularly in low‐fertility environments. We developed the first practical method for in situ diagnosis of phosphorus (P) nutrition in field‐grown cereal crops by using a handheld colorimeter. The concentration of P in extracts from fresh leaves of lowland rice grown under various P availabilities was closely correlated with that of oven‐dried leaves measured with the standard molybdenum‐blue method in the laboratory, over a range of values from 0.319 to 1.420 mg P g ^?1 DW (r = 0.885^**, n = 14). It takes only 3–5 min to estimate the P concentration of plant samples using the new technique. Although not as accurate as the laboratory method, the new method can easily detect P deficiency of rice in the field (and possibly other cereal crops) without requiring costly, off‐site equipment. Thus, extension staff and agronomists can easily adopt this technique.     

Multivariate relationships between epidemiologic risk factors and zoonotic infections among military personnel in the country of Georgia: A non‐linear canonical correlation analysis

Zoonotic diseases are endemic in the country of Georgia. Using the non‐linear canonical correlation (NCC) method, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between thirteen epidemiological risk factors and seropositivity to five zoonotic infections (anthrax, Q fever, tularemia, leptospirosis, and Crimean‐Congo hemorrhagic fever [CCHF]) among Georgian military recruits during 2014–2016. According to this multivariate statistical technique, which is suitable for the analysis of two or more sets of qualitative variables simultaneously, two canonical variables were identified. These variables accounted for 68% of the variation between the two sets of categorical variables (“risk factors” and “zoonotic infections”). For the first canonical variable, there was a relationship among CCHF (canonical loading, which is interpreted in the same way as the Pearson's correlation coefficient, [cl] = 0.715), tick bites (cl = 0.418) and slaughter of animals (cl = 0.351). As for the second canonical variable, Q fever (cl = ?0.604) and leptospirosis (cl = ?0.486) were related to rodents inside and outside home (cl = ?0.346) and sweeping in or around home (cl = ?0.317). The NCC method allows researchers to obtain additional insights into the complex relationship between epidemiological risk factors and multiple zoonotic infections.     

Dynamic interfacial rheology as a tool for the characterization of whey protein isolates gelation at the oil-water interface.

Heat-induced interfacial aggregation of a whey protein isolate (WPI), previously adsorbed at the oil-water interface, was studied by interfacial dynamic characteristics coupled with microscopic observation and image analysis of the drop after heat treatment. The experiments were carried out at temperatures ranging from 20 to 80 degrees C with different thermal regimes. During the heating period, competition exists between the effect of temperature on the film fluidity and the increase in mechanical properties associated with the interfacial gelation process. During the isothermal treatment, the surface dilational modulus, E, increases, and the phase angle, delta, decreases with time to a plateau value. The frequency dependence of E and delta is characteristic of viscoelastic films with increasing delta and decreasing E at lower frequencies. The effects of heat treatment depend on the conditions at which the gelation process takes place. Microscopic observation of gelled films gives complementary information on the effect of heat treatment on WPI adsorbed films.     

Major microbiota of lactic acid bacteria from Matsoni, a traditional Georgian fermented milk

A total of 26 samples of Matsoni were collected in Georgia. From these samples 80 strains of lactic acid cocci and 173 strains of lactobacilli were isolated. The number of lactic acid bacteria varied between 10⁵ and 10¹⁰ colony forming unit (CFU)/mL. All the isolated lactic acid bacteria were thermophilic bacteria that could grow at 45°C. The predominant lactic acid bacteria were Streptococcus thermophilus and Lactobacillus delbrueckii spp. bulgaricus in 25 samples of Matsoni, while Lactobacillus helveticus was also a predominant species, together with the two previous species in one sample of Matsoni. We showed there was diversity in both S. thermophilus and L. delbrueckii spp. bulgaricus at the strain level by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis.     

Gas and liquid phase acidity of natural antioxidants

The gas phase and in solution absolute and relative acidities of nine natural systems contained in red and white wines were determined through theoretical B3LYP/6-311++G** calculations. The aim was to correlate these thermodynamic quantities to the ability that some of these compounds show in chelating metals ions to carry out an antioxidant action following a mechanism recently reported in the literature. Results indicated that both absolute and relative values are affected by molecular features such as electronic delocalization and conjugation and intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Polyphenols characterized by the ortho-dihydroxy functionality were found to be good candidates to act as metal cation chelating ligands. Some differences in absolute acidities values were encountered in going from vacuum to water solution.     

Regulatory Aspects for Whole Grain and Whole Grain Food: An EU Perspective

Whole grain and whole grain foods enjoy recommendation as part of many national and international dietary guidelines. However, if the food industry makes claims for the health benefits of whole grain foods, then a raft of regulatory requirements must be met in the European Union (EU). Under the relatively recent EU Regulation on nutrition and health claims made on foods, any nutrition claims about the energy, nutrients, fiber, or other beneficial substances the food contains need to comply with the Annex of that Regulation. As far as health claims are concerned, until the Community list of approved so‐called Article 13 claims is published, food businesses may use any health claims that can be validated by scientific evidence, providing that they meet any specific requirements of the Regulation that are applicable prior to that date and providing they are not 1) prohibited claims or 2) claims referring to a reduction in the risk of disease or a disease risk factor or 3) referring to children's development and health or 4) claims that have been rejected by the EU regulatory procedure. Claims under 2) or 3) require submission of a dossier. Once the Community list of health Article 13 claims is published, then only those claims included in the list or those claims approved following submission of a dossier to the European Food Safety Authority may be used. Whole grain foods making nutrition and health claims will also ultimately have to respect the nutrient profiles that will be established under Article 4 of the Regulation. Various definitions of what counts as a whole grain food have been proposed but none has regulatory standing in EU. The conditions of use that will be documented as part of the EU‐approved list of health claims may in essence establish a definition.